Te Whakatau Kerēme The Settlement

The Port Nicholson Block Settlement Trust was established in August 2008 to receive and manage the settlement package for Taranaki Whānui ki Te Upoko o Te Ika. The Port Nicholson Block (Taranaki Whānui ki Te Upoko o Te Ika) Claims Settlement Act 2009 came into force on 2 September 2009. The Deed of Settlement was signed on 19 August 2008 at a ceremony held at Pipitea Marae attended by some 700 people.

As part of the settlement process, the Crown required that the establishment of the Trust be ratified by those registered with the Port Nicholson Block Claim in 2007. The ratification process was undertaken in August/September 2007 and at the conclusion of the period for voting on the formation of the Trust and the initial Trustees, 96.8% of those who voted supported the proposal that had been presented.

The voting process was undertaken and managed by an independent electoral company to ensure full transparency.